By Molly Lindstrom ‘21, A&E Editor
After a long period of standing in the wings during the pandemic, Broadway is back in business一just not exactly in the way we’re used to.
On January 1st, Ratatouille: The Tiktok Musical made its debut on TodayTix.com, selling more than 160,000 tickets. This long-anticipated musical theater event raised over $2 million for The Actors Fund, which offers aid to currently unemployed workers in the entertainment industry due to COVID-19.
The production of this musical was everything you would expect from the innovation and creativity fostered during the pandemic. It began with a Ratatouille-inspired song posted as a joke on TikTok, which soon ended up going viral and sparking a trend throughout TikTok’s musical theater community. Original songs and choreography created by bored Disney and musical theater lovers took TikTok by storm. The creative minds of these TikTokers soon caught the attention of professionals within the industry, especially writer and director Lucy Moss. In collaboration with choreographers, composers, costume and set designers, unemployed theater workers, and TikTok teens, Moss transformed what became referred to “Ratatousical” from a joke into a reality.
Unfortunately, the period of availability to watch Ratatouille: The Tik Tok Musical has passed. It is uncertain whether the event will be released onto Disney Plus, as the performance is based off of an original Disney film. Nonetheless, you can always watch the original movie on Disney Plus. If you are one of the few people unfamiliar with Ratatouille, this classic story follows the life of Remy, a rat with aspirations to become a chef in the big city of Paris. While his family expresses disapproval of his dreams, Remy is able to pursue his culinary passions as the helper of amateur chef Alfredo Linguini. Goofy but heartwarming, Remy’s story shows us that “anyone can cook”: a well-needed message during these uncertain times that we can overcome any obstacle thrown our way.
Ratatouille’s theme of embracing the non-traditional is exactly what Moss aimed to accomplish through this event. In an interview, she expressed, “It’s just so important to be supporting artists right now, I think, both in terms of the actual raising money (and in) bringing hope that new work still can be created and that there’s a space for innovation. Maybe, you know, this kind of work wouldn’t have happened if we weren’t all stuck at home.”
The musical’s digital platform has enabled creators to think outside of the box and embody the light-hearted plot through the use of split screens, fun backdrops, TikTok filters, and more. Additionally, the cast showcases many familiar faces within the industry: starring Tituss Burgess (Remy), Adam Lambert (Emile), Kevin Chamberlain (Gusteau), Wayne Brady (Django), Ashley Park (Colette), Andrew Barth Feldmen (Linguini), and André De Shields (Ego). The virtual nature of this performance allowed the young people with musical theater aspirations to share the spotlight with industry professionals. The performance’s “bows” featured the TikTok creators who influenced the musical in some way by using a split-screen effect to highlight them alongside the artist that performed their work. As Lucy Moss expressed in an interview, “The caliber of talent behind the show, is hopefully a message of support to the creative minds in the TikTok community.”
Ultimately, the production of “Ratatousical” demonstrates the true power of teamwork during these limiting circumstances, stirring the pot for musical theater and cooking up an innovative way to share love for the arts.